Free Essays on Frankenstein: No Hero iin Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Free Essays on Frankenstein: No Hero iin Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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Victor Frankenstein may be the leading character in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but a hero he is not. He is self-centered and loveless, and there is nothing heroic about him. There is a scene in Chapter twenty-four where Captain Walton is confronted by his crew to turn southwards and return home should the ice break apart and allow them the way. Frankenstein rouses himself and finds the strength to argue to the Captain that they should continue northwards, or suffer returning home "with the stigma of disgrace marked on your brows." He quite obviously has alterior motives and if he were not the eloquent, manipulative creature he so egotistically accuses his creature of being, he might not have moved the Captain and the men so much that they are blind to the true source of his passion. Unfortunately for Frankenstein, the crew, (however "moved") stand firm in their position. Yet the things he says in his motivational speech are prime examples of the extent to which Frankenstein is blind to his own faults and yet will jump at the chance to harangue others. He is so self-centered that his lack of interaction and love for others after his experiment has been completed, would barely qualify him as a person, if the difference between being human and being a person lies in the ability to have relationships with others.

One week later Frankenstein, maybe in an attempt to strum Walton's heartstrings by seeming the virtuous sufferer his melodramatic presence might falsely suggest him to be, declares, "When actuated by selfish and vicious motives, I asked you to underatake my unfinished work...," and then, "Yet I cannot ask you to renounce your country and friends to fulfil this task." It is as if he is some sort of premature proponent of reverse psychology. It seems a bit of a stretch to interpret his indecisive nature at this moment as an illumination of the conflict brewing deep within, when you consider that he has never truly demonstrated genuine concern for anyone close to him, let alone a man he only just met and befriended to further his cause. He says, "...and I renew this request now, when I am only induced by reason and virtue," and then almost in the same dying breath, "I dare not ask you to do what I think right, for I may still be misled by passion.

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- A typical hero in today's definition would be someone with super abilities who makes the world a better place. Mary Shelley's heroes, however, fit a very different description. A byronic hero is usually the protagonist in Romantic literature, a rebel with many dark qualities who is exiled from the rest of society. Ted exemplifies the basic characteristics of the byronic hero throughout Mary Shelley's work, Frankenstein. Ted, due to his grotesque appearance, is rejected from society despite his best efforts to interact with humans.... [tags: Creation, Dark Nature]

- No Hero in Shelley's Frankenstein Victor Frankenstein may be the leading character in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but a hero he is not. He is self-centered and loveless, and there is nothing heroic about him. There is a scene in Chapter twenty-four where Captain Walton is confronted by his crew to turn southwards and return home should the ice break apart and allow them the way. Frankenstein rouses himself and finds the strength to argue to the Captain that they should continue northwards, or suffer returning home "with the stigma of disgrace marked on your brows." He quite obviously has alterior motives and if he were not the eloquent, manipulative creature he so egotistically accuse... [tags: Frankenstein essays]

- Mary Shelley’s Tragic Hero Tragedy shows no discrimination and often strikes down on those undeserving of such turmoil. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a creature more repulsive than one can imagine is brought to life by a young scientist. Although this creature is horrifying in sight, he is gentle by nature. Unfortunately, the softer side of the creature is repeatedly overlooked and the so called “monster” is driven to a breaking point. Even though the Creature committed many crimes, Mary Shelley’s Creature was the tragic hero of this story because of his efforts rescue the life of a young girl and helping destitute cottagers.... [tags: creature, turmoil, crimes]

- ... We felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we enjoyed. When I mingled with other families I distinctly discerned how peculiarly fortunate my lot was, and gratitude assisted the development of filial love.” (Chapter 2) The love that he has for his family is one of the only things that keeps him hopeful. This hope is what led to his strive for happiness. Karen Spears describes this when she writes: “The characters all hold the power of either giving or taking away life in their hands when Walton is on his ship, the Creation murders Frankenstein’s wife and friend Clerval, and Frankenstein cre... [tags: Mary Shelley novel, character analysis]

- For centauries, women have been forced to live life in the outskirts of a male dominated society. During the 1800’s, the opportunities for women were extremely limited and Mary Shelly does an excellent job in portraying this in her gothic novel, Frankenstein. Furthermore, in this novel, Mary Shelly shows how society considers women to be possessions rather than independent human beings. In addition, the female characters rely heavily on men for support and survival, thus proving their inability to do it on their own.... [tags: Feminism, Mary Shelley, Frankenstein,]

- Is Frankenstein a man, whose ambition led to a disaster; or a monster, which created a life with disregard for the human race. Frankenstein, in my opinion, was the monster not the life that he had created. Frankenstein never admitted to his family what he had done, never admitted responsibility for his actions. He might as well have killed Elizabeth, William, Justine, and Clerval with his own hand. The so called “Monster” only wanted companionship; he did not want to murder those people. The circumstances forced him to commit murder.... [tags: The Monster's Identity]

- Stories of tragedy, terror, and treacherousness have captivated millions for generations. Such tales became broadly beloved during the Gothic era, with the publishing of numerous acclaimed novellas. Amongst the ranks of works such as Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde resides Frankenstein; it tells the tale of a forbidden goal, immoral actions, and downfall on the part of the protagonist Victor Frankenstein. His position in the Satanic hero archetype contributes to the stupendous story. The author of the renowned work, Mary Shelley, included Satanic heroes among numerous other literary devices that fabricate Frankenstein’s exemplarity.... [tags: Frankenstein Essays]

- In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and Frankenstein’s Creation reach similar conclusions humanity by seafaring to the North Pole, delving into the dark depths of science, and observing the rejecting nature of humans. The three tragic heroes Walton, Frankenstein and the Creation are all character doubles in their initial enthusiasm for knowledge, inner dualist personalities, religiously glorified personal goals, possessive relationships and negative effects of gaining knowledge.... [tags: Frankenstein 2014]

- Romantic and Gothic Forces in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Sometimes considered one of the first science fiction novels of supernatural terror, Frankenstein proved itself an instant success when released anonymously in 1818. The mad scientist Victor Frankenstein and his creation provoke readers with the fear of the unknown and the power of natures forces. A deeper look into the character of Victor Frankenstein, the role of scientific experimentation and the intricate settings of nature in which the story evolves, prove Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein , a worthy example of both Romantic and Gothic representation in nineteenth century British Literature.... [tags: Frankenstein essays]

- In his Poetics, Aristotle defines the tragic hero as a man of high social status who invites the gods to punish him through overbearing pride and/or presumption – hubris. It would be simple to assign the label of hubristic tragic hero to Victor Frankenstein, but such assignment of a label would be an oversimplification. The gods in Greek drama punish, albeit harshly, in an outright manner. The tragic figure is aware that the gods have forsaken him, and he resigns to live his life under the demands of retribution.... [tags: Frankenstein 2014]

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" He contradicts himself, and it lends to the meaningless of his words - words so meaningless one would find it miraculous that Walton recalls and records them in his letters with such clarity (or fervent imagination: perhaps a steady diet of seawater has driven him mad).

The expedition could be seen as metaphorical for the daring journey Frankenstein himself has so haphazardly set upon. The breaking up of the ice, and the passage that is consequently produces that allows for the ship and its crew to head home to safety, marks the only inconsistency in this metaphor. Frankenstein is never given any such "break", nor does he deserve it. Once his journey had begun his only way to turn back was to destroy the being he had created, but he realizes this too late and it results in the deaths of those closest to him. When he hears that the crew wants to turn back he says, "Did you not call this a glorious expedition? And wherefore was it glorious? Not because the way was smooth and placid as a southern sea, but because it was full of dangers and terror, because at every new incident your fortitude was to be called forth and your courage exhibited..." The words could almost be spoken to himself, if only to fall upon deaf ears. He likes the sound of his voice, or rather the voice in his head, but he is not the most receptive person. This inability to listen, to open himself up to the ideas and ways of the surrounding world, is one undeniable characteristic of a self-centered person.

In his dying moments Frankenstein wishes death upon his creature. He believes that the natural world (the very world he betrayed) is on his side, that he is somehow the victim and that revenge must be had for his grievances, even though he is ultimately to blame for them. With a renewed burst of energy he says, "I am weak, but surely the spirits who assist my vengeance will endow me with sufficient strength," and then he springs from the bed, falls back, and faints. The spirits do not assist his vengeance, and he is endowed with nothing more than his own miserable undoings. Just as he had sentenced his creature to a life of loneliness, void of love, so may he sentence himself to a lonely death.